Nihil Timeo! I Fear Nothing!

The ease of being in the forest sinks into me. It is much more hidden here, with various nooks and crannies that I had explored as a child, and I am eager to show Nymeria all of them as she has shown me the wonders of Spirane. They are each wonderful in their own way and honestly, I cannot be swayed to think one better than the other. I preferred Spirane if only because of the wolfess within it, but she was here with me now. That was a feat of its own. I caught myself glancing at her frequently. Offering easy grins and my heart thudded happily within me. She seemed impressed and I puffed up with such admiration.

Although nothing compares to the look of wonder on her face as I climb up the tree to grin down at her. I bark out a laugh at her statement, grinning broadly, so masterfully boyish that it makes me appear even younger than I am. "And you thought I was just a jester, ha!" As a pup I remember it being incredibly easy but I also was tiny then and now as I feel the ridges of the tree around me and realize I can't turn back around I begin to frown. Things just got complicated. And judging by the sly look on her face, she noticed it too. My ears fold back as I narrow my eyes at her, almost as if she is challenging me, and my orange eyes slip to the ground. It wasn't THAT far up. Right?

I sway forward as if I am about to jump then chicken out. Don't wanna break one of my pretty legs. I grin embarrassingly down at her as I begin to back up. Yes, back up! One paw, fine, another and another. My paw slips slightly and I pause before continuing backing up, all the while grumbling. "This was a LOT easier as a pup, you know. And with a big wolf to cushion the fall. I'd jump you know, but I don't wanna hurt you." There might be a white lie in that last statement because looking down, I realized it was a bit of a jump for sure!

But as I make it almost halfway down the diagonal limb, quite proud of accomplishing it backwards, a sudden bark jolts me. My back paw slips and I flop down with a thump and oomph of pain as my belly and chest hit the tree and then, slowly, I begin to slide to the right. I try to press my legs together to hold on to the tree but believe it or not, I wasn't a cougar.

Next thing I knew I fell down on my side with a bark of pain, my ribs sore from the impact. Still, I sit up abruptly with a dazed expression, glancing at Nymeria as a sudden dark figure comes striding beneath the fallen limb with a look of extreme relief and some consternation. "Vortigern!" There is a wobbly worry in his voice as my father suddenly swoops in and presses his forehead to mine, a tradition of ours. I blink in surprise up at him and then push to a stand with a low groan and an irritated look. "Hey dad. You know, you could have waited until I was off to scare me." Zaphkiel's face seemed to sharpen now. "You should know better than that! You could have... you could..." and he seems to peter out, staring at me sadly.

I am utterly confused because this isn't like my dad at all. I turn now, slowly since I am bruised, and grin at Nymeria. "Nym, come meet my dad. Dad, this is Nymeria, Princess of Spirane! His name is Zaphkiel," I say proudly, and I see his eye slowly twist from me to her as he offers her a pained smile. "Well met, Princess," and then he coughs, nervously almost, and sighs. "Vort, there is something I must tell you. Your mother and I have been planning to travel to you but I heard you at the border. It's about your sister, Asariel. She... she is gone - a girl found her at the riverside after a bear attack."

Suddenly, suddenly I am not so grown anymore. Suddenly I am the pup I used to be when I dogged the footsteps of my siblings with an arcane knowledge that something would happen. I had let time dull my senses but as I gape at him, I realize that if only I had paid attention to my heritage then I would have known. That I could have protected her and saved her. I take a step back from my father in shock. "No... she... are you sure? Did you check?" My words are demanding, heated, accusing. I glance at Nymeria, as if she can confirm I was hearing the same thing.